Happy Homes do exist!

I'm terrible at planning play dates for my kids. In fact, I never do. It's only when someone else gets a hold of me, and asks if they can play, or if we can get together...  This morning, I finally had a friend (of mine) come over with her two little boys. Make no mistake about it, it was a play date for me! The kids- of course- acted shy, hung around Mom, and finally came out of their shell when it was time to go. But, I loved it!  We talked about buying houses. Building houses. Labor stories. NICU stories. Receiving and acting on inspiration from Heaven. Spending money. Saving money. Life ambitions. Diet and exercise.  Pausing every so often of course, to take a kid potty. Or serve up a snack (which my friend so thoughtfully brought over with her!) Or to listen to a tiny story from one of the little people who were with us.  You guys! Why don't I do this more often?  And then I remember. Because it took three weeks of attempting before...

                                           We made a lot of good decisions when we built our house (which we've lived in for almost one year now!) Putting in HUGE windows, on the south side, was a really great decision!  I love it when the sun is shining and we can soak it all in! I'm like a cat, and lay there in the sun.  I've never struggled with depression. I don't claim to understand it. And I DO claim to like winters in Star Valley.  Really. I do.  But, let me tell you, sometimes we don't realize what we're missing, until we get it back!  With the bright sun shining in through those big windows the past couple of days, I've found myself in a lighter, happier mood. Life doesn't seem quite so bleak or hard. And there's a little pep in my step.  I'm not oblivious to the fact that this positive c...

If you know me, you've heard me brag about my husband. I can't help it. I love him. Brant and I are lucky to have a lot of things in common. We mesh well together, and that makes life easier. But even if we didn't, I'd still hold tight to him, because he's a keeper. When people ask me how I do it (meaning have seven kids), my first response is usually that I'm crazy. My real response is that Brant helps. A lot.  And I'm not kidding. I wouldn't be able to do it without him. You see, Brant understands that his role as Father is to be involved. We work as partners. For many things, we've fallen into our individual roles- such as my making dinner most often, and he goes to work.  But even those aren't set in stone, and we try to communicate our struggles and strengths.  Life isn't perfect. Though I can  happily say that Brant treats me with respect and love all the time ! I lose my patience with him on rare occasions. But I'm very...

Anna threw up one more time last night. I was laying in bed, almost asleep when I heard her coughing. I prayed silently, pleading, "Please don't let her be throwing up. Please let it be just a cough. I can't handle it right now. Please, please, please..." Then I could tell she was throwing up, it wasn't just a cough.  I threw the covers off, jumped out of bed, and instantly my prayer changed to, "Okay, I guess I'm going to handle it." And I knew I could. With God's help.  We handled it. Thankfully I had the foresight to put her on the couch after the first time (on a blanket of course), so we didn't wake Reagan up again.  Anna fell back asleep and slept all night. I got decent rest, and I have an extra appreciation for when God allows us to do hard things. He helps us through them so we can look back and say, "Hey, look! I survived that! And now I'm a little stronger for it!" And she is feeling much better! Today has...

My girls were sick this week. And whiney and clingy. You've heard it. You get it.  My kids (and teacher husband) have a lot of Fridays without school. Today was one of them. Brant went with the older two boys on a church youth camp out. (Don't worry, they were staying in a lodge).  I had a plan for the day, but of course with two whiney/clingy girls, and three other kids, sometimes things don't always go as planned. So it was a long day.  I whined about it a little to my family on Instagram as I put the girls to bed at 6:30! (They fell asleep pretty quickly too!)  And can you believe it!? My sister-in-law has been doing this for TWO WEEKS! My brother (her husband) is a doctor and was working a rotation out of town.  I'm quite sure I would die. (Or at least someone would...)  So I decided to stop being a whiney baby (since we already have enough of those in this house)! I got down to business, ready to focus and read a few journal articles for my...

Here we are. Rocking in the rocking chair. Reagan is feeling better, but still awfully snuggly.  I just enjoyed a delicious turkey sandwich with all the fixings. My favorite. In fact I eat it for lunch almost every day. It's best with kettle cooked jalapeno potato chips. Everything I used to make it is still on the kitchen counter. And there's a huge mess on my bedroom floor, the dining room floor and the kitchen table. Oliver and I spent all morning yesterday cleaning those areas. Story of my life, truly. I'll run around and clean it all up soon before the gang gets home.  You might wonder why I let it get that messy in the first place... Or maybe you already understand because you have kids of your own. Changing the subject- did you know I made a goal for this new year not to spend money until March? I mean specifically not to spend *extra* money- like on clothes, toys, etc.  I made it until almost February. I'm not upset with myself- it was a good way to ...

... To come unto me" "Whosoever shall receive one of such children in my name, receiveth me:" Mark 9:37 I got upset with Anna today. She was being loud and woke up Reagan. Reagan needed that nap. And I desperately needed her to have that nap.  It wasn't really Anna's fault. And she justifiably felt upset that she got scolded. She went into my bedroom to cool down.  When I came in a little while later, I apologized for getting upset with her. I explained how Reagan hasn't been feeling well, and she needs to rest for longer.  Anna went over to my dresser and grabbed a statue. She asked me if we could talk about it.  It's a little boy giving his Mom a flower on the beach. We talked about it.  Anna described how she is kind of like the boy, and I'm the Mom. They both are happy and love each other. I love the sweet forgiveness of little children. She wanted to apologize to me for waking up Reagan. And she wanted me to know that she loved me, ev...

I still remember the moment when we decided it was time to have a baby.  We hadn't been married very long. And believe it or not, I wanted to wait. I knew that once a baby came it would be harder to finish college.  But when that answer came, I knew.  And things worked out.  Things have a way of doing that. Working out.  By the time I graduated from college, Christopher was one year old, and Caleb was a tiny vomit-inducing peanut.  But I did it. I finished.  It was never an option not to finish. I always wanted to. And we even promised my parents when we got engaged that I would graduate.  Now what?  I was offered a long term sub job at the school where I student taught.  I turned it down.  It was time to be Mom. I learned a lot those first few years as a stay at home Mom.  I learned that sleeping in past 7:00  am is purely heavenly. And that the days can get pretty long when you only have two or three little b...

I'm not the cuddly type.  Just ask my friend Becca. She enjoys giving me a hard time because I often sidestep a welcome hug. I can't help it, I'm just not a touchy feely person.  And it doesn't help that when you have little kids someone is always touching you.  I mean- climbing on you-laying on you-grabbing at you with grimy hands- type of touching you.  And I just need space. You know?  But what I can't resist are baby snuggles. Innocent, pure, happy baby snuggles. Reagan is feeling sick today. There are a lot of things I could be doing- making dinner, cleaning (always), or even my homework...? But instead I'm holding her.  She's fast asleep. I could try to lay her down... But despite my prickly exterior, I just can't resist baby snuggles. And somehow I'm certain it will help her feel better faster! 

Hi friends. Welcome to my blog.  I'm a Mom to seven kids, ages 17 months to 12 years.  I'm an avid dreamer who wishes I can do everything. Write a book. Teacher kindergarten. Speak at parenting conventions. Be a college Professor. All while staying home and being the Mom I know I can be.  But right now, I'm focusing on the Mom part.  Do you remember reading Anne of Green Gables when you were young? Do you remember how Anne always had something to say about everything? She's got one for my situation too.                      “Oh, it's delightful to have  ambitions . I'm so glad I have such a lot. And there never seems to be any end to them — that's the best of it. Just as soon as you attain to one  ambition  you see another one glittering higher up still." (Montgomery) That's me. I have high hopes to accomplish every single one of my ambitions too.  But right now, I'm where I...